Yellowstone - Photo Locations Book?

[2new]

Does anyone know of a good book that list some of the best locations to shoot (and times) in Yellowstone National Park?

I am headed there in a couple of weeks and don't know much about the park, and have not had the time to reaserch, but I would like a good reference book for with specific areas detailed.

Thanks,
Michael

[cmM]

you could start with this...
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/yellowstone-fall.shtml

I'm not sure about books, but maybe you could find some material by contacting the park.

[sGu]

first i think they should have a website with info on the park, secondly, here are couple of books i found on amazon, hope they are useful ... make sure bring back some great photos!

100 Miles Around Yellowstone (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0934798524/qid=1092239000/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-0798849-4615256)

Yellowstone's Geysers, Hot Springs and Fumaroles (Field Guide) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0943972094/qid=1092239000/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/002-0798849-4615256)

Scenic Driving Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1560446331/qid=1092239000/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-0798849-4615256?v=glance&s=books)

Lonely Planet Yellowstone & Grand Teton: National Parks (Lonely Planet Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1741041163/qid=1092239000/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-0798849-4615256?v=glance&s=books)

[2new]

Thanks for the quick replies!
Michael

[SYS]

2New -

Sorry I just ran into your post. In case you haven't yet departed for the Yellowstone NP, here are some of my recommendations from my recent trip there (July 31 - Aug. 8). In all I took 1096 photos but these also include my stops in Thermopolis, Cody on my way to the NP and the Grand Teton NP, Jackson Hole and the Dinosaur National Monument on the way back home.

The YNP has about 290 waterfalls over 15 ft and lots of cascades. The best of these is the Lower Falls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The Artist Point with a great view of the Lower Falls is the most photographed site in the Park. I thought I was in that Kurosawa's surreal Dream sequence.

While in the Canyon area, make sure to take the "Uncle Tom's Trail" -- a vertical steps (350+) down the Canyon with a closeup view of the Falls. If you happen to have any medical condition, I suggest you DON'T go down these vertical steps, as you'll have trouble coming back up in 8,000ft altitude.

Another excellent place to visit in the Canyon area is the Red Rock Trail that takes you to more wonderful photo opportunities of the Falls.

If you're interested in taking photos of animals, keep your eyes very vigilant while driving anywhere in the Park, as you'll undoubtedly run into some wild animals. I ran into many elks, a mommy bear with her couple cubs (caused a 2mile traffic jam with one lady ranger going crazy to clear people off the potential danger), hundreds of buffaloes in the Hayden Valley (buffaloes blocking the traffic -- seemingly intentionally -- is a great photo opportunity), a mommy deer with her fawn, pronghorn deer, etc. etc. No, I didn't see any moose while there, but did enjoy my Moosehead beers in the evenings. The Hayden Valley is a must stop for viewing hundreds of buffaloes. I was disappointed with the Lamar Valley as I didn't get to see much of wild animals, but the Valley itself renders beautiful landscape photo opportunities if you're into landscapes.

As for geysers, the most famous is of course the one at the Old Faithful Inn with predictable eruptions. There are lots of dead trees in the geyser basins that were great for both color and B&W photos. I found the shots of my family walking on the boardwalk with smoke rising from behind came out really good. All of these were with zoom shots (75-300).

You'll find too many photo opportunities in the Mammoth Hot Springs. Make sure to visit both the Upper and Lower Terraces. Also, the Norris Basin is a must, especially its Porcelain Basin. I took some panoramic photos with some success in both Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Basin (as well as of course the Falls shot at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone).

While in the Mammoth area, pay a visit to this place called "Boiling River" that is marked on the road with "45th Parallel Bridge" sign between the Mammoth Hot Springs and the North Entrance. You'd need to take about a quarter mile easy hike along the river to find this hidden gem called "Boiling Water" where the thermal hot springs water gushes into the cool river water. This is the only place where the Park allows you to soak using their thermal water. But I found the place with lots of running thermal water action for many photos. Warning: DON'T breathe in too much vapor and certainly don't dunk your head under the water. Also, the thermal water is hot enough to scald you. Otherwise this spot is IT for relaxing your tired muscles and nerves from the stresses of travelling, as well as nice photo opportunities.

I didn't find the Tower Falls (between Mammoth and Lamar Valley) all that great, perhaps due to the fact that they closed off the hiking trail down to the Falls. But you might want to stop there and see if you have a different set of eyes from mine.

Along with the Basins I mentioned, stop to see the Virginia Cascade, Artist Paint Pots, and Gibbon Falls in the Norris Junction area. At the nearby Madison Junction, the place to go is the Firehole Canyon area where you'll see lots of swimmers in the Firehole River as well as a great photo opp with its Firehole Falls.

Along with that well known geyser eruptions by the Old Faithful Inn, you'd want to stop by the Mystic Falls in the Old Faithful -- Madison area. You'd need to hike in for a mile, but the Falls is definitely worth the pleasant hike, as you can get to the bottom of the Falls and see a bit of thermal water dripping down into the stream from atop. Also see the Kepler Cascades in the nearby area.

If you're into architectural photos, you'd definitely want to get inside the Old Faithful Inn where they're celebrating the 100th anniversary this year. This most impressive lodging is considered the best of any national park lodge in terms of architecture.

The West Thumb Geyser Basin is also a great place to visit, as the Basin is along the Yellowstone Lake to render some interesting photo shots.

If you like to take photos of lakes, of course the Yellowstone Lake is the place to visit. But for me and my family, the Lake was the most uninteresting place of all. In all we stayed 5 nights and 6 days in the Park itself, but we barely saw all the "best" the Park has to offer in spite of our non stop movement from early morning until collapsing in bed each night. We stayed one night in the Lake area, one night in the Mammoth Hot Springs, one night in Old Faithful Inn, and a couple nights in the Canyon area. My recommendation is to stay at least 3 nights (ideally 5 nights like we did), and spread out your lodgings in four corners like we did. You won't regret it. I don't know how many people I ran into in the Park that are there to have this "drive by" two-day scenic tour of this most impressive national park. It was pitiful to find them wondering why in the world would anyone stay in the Park for 5 nights!!!

Unfortunately, due to my two little boys, I had to limit our hiking within just one mile of any hiking stop. But if you're not limited to any hiking distance, you'll find even more beautiful spots in the Park.

Anyway, I'd love to hear about your trip upon your return and what great photo opportunities you've had.

[2new]

SYS - First Wow! Thanks for all of the detail and specific loaction suggestions. I leave Friday for the park. I'll be printing your message to take with me along with the aforementioned books that I have purchased! I am completly psyched up to get to yellowstone. We will be staying 3 nights just outside the West Entrance, 3 nights in Gardiner, and two in Jackson Hole to see the Tetons.

I'll let you know how things go when we return.

Thanks to All!

Michael

[Penguin_101_1]

I am going to post here so I can find it back when I go next year! :lol:

[SYS]

2new -

Good to hear that you haven't taken off already. Take a look at the following "Top Ten Things to See in Yellowstone" -- pretty much accurate in hindsight:

http://www.yellowstone.net/topten.htm

As for the Grand Teton, you might want to take a boat shuttle across the Jenny Lake and hike in a mile to get to the Hidden Falls. If you like hiking, you might want to do a 5 mile hike around the lake and another mile to get to the Falls, or take the boat shuttle across and then hike back rather than using the boat again.

I think you'd be impressed with the Jackson Lake Lodge from where you have a fantastic view of the Grand Teton mountain landscape. I really wanted to take a nice panoramic photo of the landscape, but alas I've only had one day and it turned out to be a very hazy day that killed any chance of obtaining a crisp photo.

But, I gotta tell ya..... after the Yellowstone, the Grand Teton was somewhat anticlimactic. The Grand Teton should nevertheless offer you tons of photo opportunities. My statement here shouldn't be construed as anything pejorative of the Grand Teton. I just happened to have enjoyed the Yellowstone a lot more than I had anticipated.

Jackson Hole.... man that was one FUN little town!!! (Except for paying over $100 for a night at the Motel 6).

Enjoy your trip!!! javascript:emoticon(':D')
javascript:emoticon(':D')

[2new]

Thanks Again! great information and a great link!
Michael

[LuckyCritters]

If you ever have the opportunity, you have to check out the park in the Winter. It is simply amazing. When I went through, they had pretty much closed the park down to anything except snowmobile traffic. The park is incredibly beautiful on a brisk morning with snow on the ground.

Oh, and the experience of coming face to face with a bull buffalo on a snowmobile is quite memorable.

I grew up on a ranch in Sheridan, WY so I've been lucky to see the park in all seasons. Each season has something different to offer and changes the face of the park dramatically.